My Non-Scale Keto Diet Victories

When I started the ketogenic diet on June 25, 2018, I did so to lose weight. And so far, I’ve lost around 40 pounds. I have about 85 pounds to go before I reach my goal weight. So I’m off to a really good start on the weight loss.

For me, eating a ketogenic diet hasn’t been difficult. In fact, I explained in an earlier post that the ketogenic diet is the first one I’ve ever done that has truly left me feeling satiated after meals. Before keto, I never knew what satiated felt like.

When eating lots of carbs, I knew what it was like to feel full, and to have a belly so full of food that I didn’t want to move. But that feeling of being satiated (which is both a body and mind thing) was foreign to me. No matter how full I was on a carb-laden meal, I could always make room for dessert. That’s because I wasn’t satiated and I was addicted to sugar.

Anyway, the difference in how I eat now, and how I view food, is remarkable. And the fact that I’ve been able to lose weight without suffering at all or feeling deprived has been really nice. And, of course, the difference that I’m seeing in the mirror pushes me to continue.

I took two snapshots of me and put them together just so that I could see the difference. Had I known I was going to share this recent selfie with the world, I would have brushed my hair. 😀 But after seeing the difference, I didn’t care about my unbrushed hair. I still wanted to share…

That’s a remarkable difference, and that’s with 85 pounds left to go!

But what have surprised me the most about the ketogenic diet are all of the non-scale victories.

My non-scale ketogenic diet victories:

Back pain completely gone

Inflammation in feet and ankles gone

Pain in feet completely gone

Blood pressure normalized

No more exhaustion and pounding heart beat after eating a meal

Increased and sustained energy throughout the day

Better mood

Resting heartbeat decreased

I’m sure I there are more I’m not remembering, but let me explain each of these.

My back pain is completely gone.

For years, I had chronic back pain every single day. I’d wake up with it. I had it all day long. I’d go to bed with it. And sometimes, it would wake me up during the night. On a scale of 1-10, it would range from a three to an eight. It would be worse after a very active day, and that describes most of my days as a DIYer.

My pain would mostly stay in my lower back, but it would sometimes settle in the middle of my back. But regardless of exactly where it was, it was always there.

I would tell Matt continually that I just felt like I could get some relief if I could hang upside down and let gravity stretch my spine. I would envision myself hanging upside down from monkey bars on a children’s playground and experiencing relief. I suggested several times that we should get an inversion table, but that thought made Matt nervous. (If I couldn’t get upright, he wouldn’t be able to help me.) He suggested that I go to the chiropractor and get spinal decompression, but I just never got around to it.

Well, after about three months on the keto diet, my back pain completely disappeared. COMPLETELY. After years of suffering!

I never went to a doctor for my pain because I knew they would just prescribe me pain pills, which I’d never take. And I also knew that if I would just lose weight, it would help. Well, I still have 85 extra pounds of weight on my tiny 5-foot frame, and yet the pain has already completely disappeared. That’s more than just a weight issue. That was the food I was eating causing inflammation.

And speaking of inflammation…

The inflammation in my ankles and feet is completely gone.

Since I spend my days working on home-related projects that I share on my other blog, I do a lot of standing and walking every single day. When I was eating carb-laden meals, by the end of each day, my feet and ankles would be swollen. I’m talking about cankles here.

At one point, it worried me so much that I started sleeping with my feet elevated in an effort to get rid of the inflammation during the night.

Sometimes it would help, but sometimes it wouldn’t. I got to where I would just wake up with swollen ankles, and I knew that was a terrible sign.

I don’t remember how long I had been on keto, but I do remember after a long day of working on DIY projects, I looked down at my ankles and was so surprised at what I saw. I yelled to Matt, “MY ANKLES LOOK NORMAL!!” I hadn’t seen normal, non-swollen ankles in quite some time, and they were a beautiful sight.

And again, that’s not because I’ve lost all of my weight. I still have 85 pounds to go. My ankles were doing that because the carb-laden food I was eating was causing inflammation. Keto got rid of my inflammation, even with me still needing to lose so much weight.

The excruciating pain in my feet is completely gone.

This is a huge one. Ever since college, I’ve had pain in my feet. It goes away throughout the day as I walk and stand, but first thing in the morning, it was bad. And if I sat down for an extended period of time, like to have a meal, it was bad.

The last couple of years, the pain in my feet got so bad that it was excruciating to get out of bed in the mornings. In fact, it was so bad that I told Matt that I was considering getting crutches to use in the mornings just to ease my feet into holding weight every morning. The pain would be so bad that I’d be close to tears, and needing to grab walls and anything else just to steady myself.

Well, that pain is completely gone, too. In the mornings, I can pop right out of bed with zero pain in my feet. Zero pain. Do you know what that’s like after experiencing such excruciating pain for years? It’s pretty amazing!

My blood pressure has normalized.

The last time I checked my pre-keto blood pressure, which was about three weeks before starting the diet, my blood pressure was 157/97.

It didn’t take long after starting the keto diet for my blood pressure to normalize. In fact, I think after only four or six weeks, my blood pressure was down to 117/79.

I no longer have exhaustion and pounding heartbeat after eating a meal.

As if the things I’ve already listed about my pre-keto life weren’t scary enough, this is the one that scared Matt the most.

When eating a carb-filled diet, about five or ten minutes after eating a meal, I would get so sleepy that I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and my heart would beat very hard. If I was sitting in a comfy position after a meal, I would go to sleep. No exceptions. And the meal didn’t have to be filled with terrible things, like fast food fries and milkshakes. It could be a meal that most people view as “healthy,” like some sort of chicken and rice dish. It didn’t matter. If I ate, I would go to sleep.

And I’m not talking about just a little shut eye, or a cat nap here. I’m talking about a near-comatose kind of sleep where Matt would have a hard time waking me up. That’s scary.

After a couple of weeks on keto, that went away completely. I can now eat a meal, and feel totally energetic afterwards. No need for naps anymore. And I also don’t experience that pounding heartbeat after meals anymore. I stay awake and alert throughout the whole day now, with energy to spare.

And speaking of energy…

I have increased and sustained energy throughout the day.

Before keto, I was continually exhausted. Looking back, I honestly don’t know how I managed to get out of bed in the mornings with the condition I was in, much less get any home projects done. Somehow I managed, mostly out of sheer necessity, but each day was a huge struggle. At any given time in the day, I could easily lie down and take a nap. I counted down the minutes until I could stop working on a project for the day and go sit down.

After a couple of weeks on keto, that completely changed. The first week on keto, I still felt sluggish. But after that first week, my energy began to gradually increase until I had so much energy I didn’t know what to do with it all.

And this was different from energy spikes I had experienced from other diets (like HCG) or energy pills/drinks that I had tried in the past. Those left me feeling like I was bouncing off the walls. I had crazy high energy, but had trouble concentrating and focusing with those.

With keto, the increased energy is steady and sustained throughout the day. In fact, back when I was working on my pantry remodel, I would easily work until 11:00pm, and not even realize how late it was. When Matt would call me and tell me it was time to close up for the night, I’d be so disappointed because I had so much energy and focus that I could have easily gone on for another two or three hours.

It feels amazing to be able to get through the day energized and focused, without the need for an after-meal nap, and without the continual fighting against exhaustion.

I have a better mood and outlook.

When eating a diet filled with carbs, I was continually having to keep my attitude in check. I didn’t want anyone bothering me (including my husband), so if he interrupted me in the middle of a project because he needed help with something, I would get so frustrated. I would help him, of course, but my attitude wasn’t good. I just wanted to be left alone.

And along with that, I could also get quite short-tempered and snippy. And pessimistic. I always seemed to have a negative outlook towards life and things in general.

On keto, that has completely changed. I no longer feel short-tempered or snippy. Matt has commented on the change in my attitude as well. He says I’m way more pleasant to be around now. We’ve always laughed together, but we laugh way more now than we did before. Life just feels lighter, and my pessimistic outlook has disappeared. Now I just generally feel positive, happy, and happy to help my husband when he needs it.

My resting heartbeat has decreased.

Before keto, my heart was always beating fast and hard. It didn’t matter if I had been sitting for an hour and doing absolutely nothing. My resting heart rate was still around 100. And I didn’t have to search for a pulse on my neck or my wrist, either, because I could always just feel my heart beat.

Now, my resting heart rate is 64. And I can no longer just feel my heartbeat pulsing through my body. In order to check my heart rate now, I actually have to find a pulse on my neck or wrist.

The changes from following a ketogenic diet have been life-changing (and probably life-saving).

Those are all of the changes that I can think of right off hand. Like I said, when I look back on my high-carb diet days, I honestly have no idea how I functioned. (And you’ll wonder that, too, when I get brave enough to share “before” pictures with you.)

Now, my life just feels completely different. And if I feel this good with an extra 85 pounds on my frame, I can’t even imagine how I’ll feel once I get ALL of the excess weight off! I’m excited to find out!

I went from having such inflammation all over my body that it hurt to do normal things, to being completely free of pain and inflammation. I went from being so tired and exhausted all day long, to having more than enough energy throughout the day (with lots to spare) to get my projects done.

Just the other day, I went to the courthouse to pay our property tax. In front of the building, there are six steps (seven, if you count the curb) to reach the front door…

I got out of my car (with zero pain), headed towards the building, bounded up those steps without giving it a second thought (and without the handrail), and just before I grabbed the door to go in, I stopped.

I turned back to look a those steps because I remembered that just the previous spring, when I went there to register my car, those steps looked like Mount Everest to me. I got up the steps, but each step was a chore, and I don’t know if I could have done it without the use of the handrail. Every step hurt my knees and feet, and when I reached the top (of just six steps!!) I was out of breath.

The ketogenic diet has changed my life. And, quite frankly, it has probably saved my life, as well.

And I still have 85 pounds to go. I’m so excited to continue on this journey.

66 Comments

Linda Manuel

February 9, 2019 at 5:50 pm

So impressed with the difference in the photos, know you must be really pleased! I am losing weight only by doing Fitbit religiously and would love to incorporate the Keto way of living into my regimen, but just seems complicated to me. I did Atkins at one time and it worked great, but of course, didn’t stay on it. Is Keto easier? Follow your DIY blog and find this just as interesting. Thanks for sharing your story, it is inspirational!

Kristi

February 10, 2019 at 4:53 am

Keto seems much easier to me, for some reason. I like that there seem to be more structure, so I know the ratios to shoot for — 75% fat, 20% protein and 5% carbs. At first, I used an app called Carb Manager. I still use it on occasion, but I pretty much know what I can eat every day now.

If you look on Pinterest for keto recipes, you’ll find so much there that there’s no way you can get bored with what you’re eating on keto. There are enough recipes to keep you cooking for a couple of years. 😀

Lisa E

February 9, 2019 at 6:17 pm

Wow, just wow! I am so very happy for you. Great job! With all of these non-scale victories people are experiencing, I just don’t get the nay sayers. I do have some questions/comments. I bought a book on keto last yr but just wasn’t ready. I started this past Mon finally. I am doing it with 16/8 intermittent fasting, 3 meals to begin with, at least. I just can’t get into measuring macros, etc., so I try to do what Dr Berg suggested on a video and keep it simple by filling 1/2 the plate with veggies, 1/4 fat and 1/4 carbs. It hasn’t been a full wk and I have lost 4.5 lbs. I realize it’s water weight but I will take it! The hardest part for me has been no snacks as I have always been a grazer. I am still experiencing hunger in between meals. Did you experience that? I am trying to increase fat as he suggested but not sure what I am doing wrong. Was your transition easier?

Lisa E

Kristi

February 10, 2019 at 5:01 am

Don’t discount that water weight! Keep in mind that the reason you had water weight in the first place is because carbs are inflammatory, so they make you retain water. Losing that water weight is a step in the right direction!

If you’re experiencing hunger, then just eat more at your meals. Keep in mind that it’s not a calorie restrictive diet. There’s no need for you to be hungry. But as a recovering grazer, I’d urge you to just be sure that you truly are hungry and not just bored and wanting to eat/snack out of habit. 🙂

The first week was a bit of a struggle for me. I wanted to eat carbs pretty badly. By the second week, I was having a much easier time. And by the third week, I was good to go on keto. Just push through the first week to ten days, and it will get easier.

Also, I don’t know if you’re craving sweets like I was, but having a sweet treat on hand to have as dessert with my meal really helped me. I eat way less of that now, but initially, those sweet treats were my saving grace. I found loads of keto fat bomb and dessert recipes on Pinterest. Those also help to curb hunger since they’re so high in fat.

And I also second Cathy’s suggestion to use Carb Manager. Cathy is my sister, and she can tell you that the first day I tried to use that app, I was so frustrated that I wanted to throw my phone against the wall. No matter what I put in there, I couldn’t get the macros (fat/protein/carb ratio) right. But after I cooled down a bit, cleared my head, and tried again, I finally caught on. 😀 Now I love it. I use it less now than I did in the beginning, just because now I kind of know what foods to put together in a meal for the correct macros. But it was very helpful in the beginning.

I too am a snacker, plus I am up late at nights. I found that intermittent fasting every day helped me. I don’t eat until 11:00 am and stop after 7:00 pm. I’m up at 6:00 am and have a coffee I prepare with MTC oil, cream, skinny syrup, and a type of coffee that I buy from a company called Elevacity. It has an appreciate suppressant in it and I found it helped me immensely
when I started out.

Nicole

February 11, 2019 at 1:45 pm

Try some bone broth! That helps me between meals on those random ravenous days. And it has an electrolyte boost. I keep a powdered form with me at work and get the normal carton from the grocery store for home.

(I totally guessed at those amounts. I don’t measure anything. 😀 I just shake until it looks right.)

Stir together and then let simmer until ready to serve.

While that’s simmering, I cook some riced cauliflower. I used to rice my own cauliflower, but now I just buy the frozen stuff. It’s so much easier.

Serve the stove top casserole over a bed of cauliflower rice.

With that, we’ll also have a large salad:
Romaine lettuce
iceberg lettuce (because I love the crunch)
spring mix (has little baby lettuces and spinach in it)
1 slice of tomato each
grated cheddar
zucchini
sunflower seeds
buttermilk ranch dressing (full fat, of course, and I generally make it at home)

And for dessert (if we want dessert), we’ll have one or two fat bombs. I’ve made all kinds, but my favorite is:

That’s the basic recipe, and then I generally add about 1/2 c. of something to it, like chopped pecans, or shredded unsweetened coconut, or Lily’s chocolate chips, or sunflower seeds.

Mix all that up, form into little balls (about 1.5 to 2 inches diameter, like a snowball cookie), and refrigerate. Give it about an hour, and enjoy!

So for our meal, that’s about a cup of riced cauliflower, about 1.5 cups of the stovetop casserole, a large salad, and one or two of the fat bombs.

Of course, if we were eating more than one meal, we’d just eat smaller portions at each meal.

Anyway, I hope that gives you an idea. Just keep in mind that keto is NOT a calorie restrictive diet (obviously 😀 ). And you eat as much as you need to be satisfied. Just try to keep those macros (i.e., the fat/protein/carb ratio) in check, or as close as you can get it. You should be eating 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% carbs.

In the beginning, it’s easier to get an idea of what this looks like by using an app like Carb Manager on your phone. You can even put in your favorite recipes so that it’s in there and you can add a serving to your day with just one click.

Lydia Cology

February 9, 2019 at 6:42 pm

OMG – kristi you inspire me so much. I love reading your blogs. I have never posted before but I think I’m gonna try keto and hopefully stick with it. Thank you. I never realized you were in so much pain

Kelly Baird

February 9, 2019 at 6:48 pm

I’m so happy for you, Kristi! You’re preaching to the choir here, I’ve been keto/low carb since I was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago. It’s very interesting to see your take on it all–your extensive research has given me more places to go read up on the WOE. I do slip, I have not totally beaten my carb addiction. You’re an inspiration, and I wish you continued success. Is your husband doing it as well?

JONI

Cate

Melanie

February 9, 2019 at 9:46 pm

So very happy for you! My son lost a lot of weight on keto and turned me on to it. However, I admit that I cannot stay on it consistently. I need some tips, food ideas, and recipes. Would LOVE for you to share what you eat!!

Linda

Kristi

February 10, 2019 at 5:34 am

I do plan to include some recipes, hopefully very soon. In the meantime, scroll up and see my response to Jacky. I’ve given two of my favorite recipes. But I’ll do more official recipe posts for those recipes soon.

Melanie

February 10, 2019 at 1:03 pm

Thanks so much, Kristy! I want to be on this bandwagon. I did lose 20 pounds in 2018 at the times when I was on this plan. ( I was sporadically on this, so I would have lost more if I had keto’ed more.) Now I have gained 5 pounds back. I want to do better!

Kristi

Kristi

February 10, 2019 at 5:33 am

I do plan to include some recipes, hopefully very soon. In the meantime, scroll up and see my response to Jacky. I’ve given two of my favorite recipes. But I’ll do more official recipe posts for those recipes soon.

Jens

February 10, 2019 at 12:17 am

Well done Kristi sticking to the Keto lifestyle! The benefits are so obvious in your recent photo. Looking and feeling so much better must give you the incentive to continue and I imagine that by now the Keto lifestyle is ingrained. I’ve been dabbling with Paleo but plan to head towards Keto. I feel soooo much better when I eat sensibly but fell off the wagon over Christmas/New Year so have been feeling blaghhhhh!

Kristi

Linda

February 10, 2019 at 1:18 am

Kristi, do you cycle in and out of ketosis or just stay there? I have other friends who cycle. They do keto for a few months then cycle out for awhile. Then go back in.
One is a nurse who is also a body builder that cycles. Just curious…

Kristi

February 10, 2019 at 5:38 am

Are you asking if I do it on purpose? That answer is no. If you’re asking if my body just cycles in and out naturally, I’m not sure. I don’t measure my ketones. Those strips that you pee on are useless, and I think the only way to accurately measure ketones is with a blood ketone tester, which I don’t have.

I just try to eat sensibly, keep my carbs down, keep my macros in check, and walk on my treadmill when I can. I hope I stay in ketosis all the time, but I can’t be sure.

Suzan Richardson

February 10, 2019 at 2:41 am

I too started the Keto diet. I was 205 lbs a little over a year ago and my heart Dr said I needed to lose weight. I lost the first 15-25 Ibs without Keto and it took me almost the whole year the last 25 has been Keto.( not strict as my Daddy was in the hospital in December and then passed so I wasn’t always eating that way.) I also follow a group called push for your better. It’s really a helpful group. They woman that started the group send out a weekly menu.

Melanie

Marion Simmons

February 10, 2019 at 5:49 pm

I have been seeing so much about this diet and have several friends on it. I am still confused as to what you actually need to eat and how much. I have fibromyalgia pain and my hubby has seizures. We both could lose some weight, and I sure would love to have some energy again. You mentioned you were on some fb keto groups to help you with this. Could you recommend one for us?

Kristi

Robin

February 11, 2019 at 1:50 am

Thanks for the inspiration! I had been slow reading Dr. Mercola’s book, Fat for Fuel, kind of gearing up to start. When you started this new site last week, it got me going. I’m on day 3, and I feel better already. I had a bad headache the first day, but I got lots of sleep and on day 2, it was gone. I’m glad you shared your recipes and I will look for more on Pinterest. I’m kind of stuck on eggs, avocados, cheese, nuts, butter and salads. I’m starting to get bored already. I’m excited to hear about your resources and more recipes. You look great, but the other keto victories you’ve experienced are even more incredible. Thanks!

Cathy

February 11, 2019 at 2:16 am

Robin, there’s no need to get bored while eating Keto. Google Keto recipes and you’ll find some for every kind of food you can imagine! I like to freeze single serving size bags of the casseroles and meat dishes so I’ll have a selection to choose from every day. One of the best parts of eating Keto is the wide variety of foods you can enjoy, including desserts and pizza and pancakes (I love all of these).

Robin

February 11, 2019 at 7:10 pm

Yes! I did some Googling yesterday after reading/posting, and found a lot of good stuff. I have a bag of riced cauliflower in the freezer, that I bought at Costco last week, and founds tons of stuff to do with that. I plan of having an awesome dinner tonight 😀

I do really well with keto for a while and then fall off the wagon occasionally. One thing I’ve learned about myself is sugar makes me moody and weepy and slightly irrational when it comes to my emotions. It’s awful and I have no business eating sugar, particularly when I look back at how miserable it makes me. I don’t say the word “miserable” lightly. I feel ilke a teenager going through puberty, very hormonal and honestly really crabby.

Anyway, like you, I have noticed many non-scale victories. Congratulations on your success!

melanie

Alma Miranda

February 12, 2019 at 5:51 pm

Because of health issues I have to lose 20 pounds. I was going to try this until I read all the fat it contains. I have FA, which in simple terms it means my body produces its own cholesterol. It’s an inherited condition due to a faulty chromosome.

Jean

February 18, 2019 at 2:53 pm

Alma, I have had very high cholesterol all my life. The doctor wanted to put me on a staten drug, but I had read too many instances of terrible side effects so I never agreed. He also wanted to put me on a low-fat diet. I never did that either. I did stop using canola oil, corn oil, etc. but I do use lots of butter, coconut oil, olive oil, etc. which is what you use on the keto diet. I love the keto diet! I’m 80 now and very healthy. In 2004, my husband had to change doctors. The doctor wanted him to start on a staten drug. The doctor said he was on one because he wanted to be sure he had a long, healthy retirement. My husband declined the staten. The doctor died of a heart attack within a year.

You might be interested in watching these two videos:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6SVB99mJHAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjqQKwArBtc
The first one is Dr. Berg and the second one is a Dr. Oz show with Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a well-known cardiologist, and Dr. Jonny Bowden a Board-Certified nutritionist. Both videos are very informative and explain a lot about cholesterol and why it is not the culprit. Dr. Sinatra recommended a low-fat diet for people with high cholesterol for many years, but not anymore. I hope you will watch them.

Alma Miranda

Kathleen

February 12, 2019 at 10:49 pm

Kristi, You look lovely – I’m so happy for you. I am a keto convert, having had my thyroid gland destroyed medically. Keto and low carb are the only things that help my metabolic issues. Dr. Berg provides a wonderful, informative service to many people. I have a question for you that I hope is not too personal. In your “before”, your eyebrows are sparse and trail off mid brow. That is a classic sign of hypothyroidism. In your after, your brows seem normal. I’m wondering if keto helped your thyroid – or if it’s just the photo – or makeup. If too personal, forgive me and delete this.

Kristi

February 12, 2019 at 11:25 pm

I didn’t know that was a sign of hypothyroidism! So in the “before” picture, my eyebrows definitely trail off mid brow. That’s not just the lighting. And in the “after” picture, I’m almost 100% sure that I had used an eyebrow pencil. BUT, I just looked at a snapshot I took this morning with no makeup, and my eyebrows are definitely thicker than in the “before” picture! In fact, even without makeup today, they look more like the second picture. Not quite as dark and full-looking, but they’re getting there!

Kathleen

February 12, 2019 at 11:39 pm

Even with the eyebrow pencil, something’s definitely gone on with your eyebrows. In olden days, thyroid was diagnosed by the eyebrow symptom and temperature (hypothyroid patients have a lower temp than normal). Assuming that you are mostly off flour now, it may be that the absence or reduction of gluten has helped your thyroid and that’s part of why you’re feeling better. Whatever it is, keep it up!

Alta Craig

February 13, 2019 at 12:10 am

Kristi, my primary care physician advised me to eat ‘low-carb’ in June of 2017, and I’ve been doing that since then. I’ve lost 20-25 pounds, reduced inflammation, lowered my triglycerides, and had other good results. You may know from my friendship with Matthew that I recently began eating the carnivore lifestyle and reaped even more benefits. I am thrilled to see the photos of your Before and After, and applaud your efforts, which have obviously been a rousing success. I wish you and Matthew both even more success as you continue your journey, and look forward to seeing your photo in another year!

Jane

February 13, 2019 at 6:56 pm

Yep, you’re the poster girl. What a difference! Amazing, really. I do keto, but have a little more difficulty than usual; I have to pretty much avoid high-histamine foods (because IBS/D), which cuts out a number of “go-to” keto ingredients. For example, tree nuts and peanuts, avocado, certain cheeses….all of which I love. I’m so glad you are sharing your journey with us. Both of your blogs are major inspiration sources.

Karyn M

Maggie

February 15, 2019 at 5:21 pm

Just amazing Kristi! I am so happy/proud of you!

I recently (well 1.5 years) have lost 40 pounds and it feels amazing! But more importantly I like that I managed to finally get into a lifestyle change that I know I can maintain and that I’ve finally found a couple workout programs that completely have me addicted to working out now!

Keep up the wonderful progress! I look forward to following and cheering you on!

Linda

Chantal

February 17, 2019 at 5:14 pm

Reading these comments reminds me of something I heard Dr. Stephen Phinney say (he’s prescribed the keto diet to his patients for decades and is highly educated on it). I’m paraphrasing here, but when you are fat-adapted (i.e. your body prefers fat as fuel but is not necessarily in the state of ketosis) and trying to lose fat weight, you should take into account the fat that is already on your body when determining how much fat to eat. In other words, once you are adapted, you may technically eat less than 70% fat (or whatever percentage you’re aiming for personally), but the difference is made up with fat that your body is using from within itself. Phinney recommends staying at a certain amount of carbs, making sure you’re getting the proper amount of protein for your specific body (he has a chart on his website to help with this) and then eating fat to satiety. I hope this helps.

Nancy Harper

janice dinse

February 19, 2019 at 7:25 pm

I have been toying with the idea of Keto for over a year. At first I was going to have the gastric bypass and then chickened out. I look at the Keto recipes and I don’t like avocados at all or peppers of any kind and they seem to be in everything. I love sandwiches, but I need bread. I am a carb alcoholic for sure. I never have most of the ingredients for the recipes. I have no idea how to do the portion percentages at all. Is there any help for me? I have ordered a few of the books and printed out several other books, but I just can’t seem to throw myself into it because of the stuff I don’t like that seems to be the basis of the recipes. Plus there is my husband who, I know for sure, wouldn’t eat of it. Then there is the make two meals at every meal, one for me and one for him. That is why I also have quit several other diets. Thanks.

Kristi

February 19, 2019 at 7:34 pm

Janice, I’m really not sure how to respond, other than to say that yes, it does take a commitment. But with the health issues I was experiencing as a result of the horrible foods I was eating, it just came down to me asking myself, “Am I worth the effort?” Because at the rate I was going, I was on track to be some sort of statistic — heart disease, cancer, diabetes, something else. I decided that I was worth the effort.

I absolutely HATE cooking. I’m also not a fan of avocados (I don’t eat them, and manage to find plenty of recipes without them). And to me, cookies, cake, ice cream, and sandwiches were life. So if I can do it, I know anyone can do it. You just have to ask yourself if you’re worth the effort.

And I can almost guarantee you that you can find recipes that will be keto while also satisfying your husband. Keto foods are full of fat, which is highly satisfying and doesn’t taste like “diet” foods at all. He will be eating keto without even realizing it.

charlotte clark

Kathy Frye

February 21, 2019 at 6:12 pm

Hi Kristi. I love Addicted2Decorating and just started following this blog, which I’m enjoying as well. You talk about how the Keto diet has helped you, but I’m curious if it has helped Matt, especially with his MS symptoms, etc.? I have MS (14 years since diagnosis) and am very interested in ways to help maintain my health for as long as I can. Keep up the great work…and thank you for the information!

Kristi

February 27, 2019 at 1:37 pm

The keto diet definitely helps Matt. I notice an immediate and drastic difference in him when he eats carbs like bread, pasta, rice, etc. When he eats keto, his strength improves, his speech improves, he seems more alert throughout the day, he has way more energy throughout the day, etc. It makes a very noticeable difference.

Christine Carus

February 22, 2019 at 7:15 pm

I’m so excited for you on this journey. You’re doing such great things for your health! I feel like we have much in common and I think that’s why I love watching your progress. I have been living the Ketogenic lifestyle for about 6 years now. It’s been a wonder. Plus, I also live “relatively” near you in Texas as well as having a background in interior design. I’m excited to see your progress through this health journey, as well as with your home. God bless!

designdreamer

February 24, 2019 at 3:46 pm

Kristi,
You are a rock star! In most everything you do. First, I have to say I’m amazed that you found it hard to walk up those 7 steps, and yet you did all that work in your house – don’t get me wrong, I believe you ’cause I too have/do suffer from some of those same pains, but I don’t accomplish anything like you do. I DO work out most days however. I started Keto on Sept 24 – partly because my dd and her fiance had done it successfully for a few months prior and partly because YOU had written about it. I was motivated to lose weight for the wedding, (which is next weekend, lol) and by their and your success. I’m older than you, but am also short (5’2″) have foot, back and hip pain. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, although that diagnosis was so unsubstantiated I’ve never really accepted it – I, like you wouldn’t/won’t take meds for it ’cause they have too many potential side effects. I DO and have regularly practiced yoga, mat pilates, spin, and various other group exercise classes. I’ve struggled with my weight all my life, and like you, have sweet tooth, and found dieting extremely tough, not to mention frustrating – I was doing low calorie, and feeling deprived, and yet the weight was very slow to come off – I’d be happy to lose 4 lbs in a month. I did Weight Watchers and was successful, but gradually put it back on. Six years ago, I had knee surgery – Meniscus – so that put me out of working out for a while, and put some weight back on. Then 4 1/2 years ago, after helping one of our dd’s move – up and down 2-3 flights of stairs (there were no elevators) I had hurt my back so bad (sciatica), I couldn’t walk without crutches, so I put on more weight. I’m happy to say I’ve taken off 20-23 lbs – I really do vary from the first part of the day to the end of the day that much – and I’m pretty much where I want to be. A lot of my pain has been very minimized and unlike other times when I’ve lost weight, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the lessening of inflammation, so although I plan to add back fruits and restricted vegetables into my diet, I’m still planning on keeping the carbs low, so that I don’t build up the inflammation again. Thank you Kristi for your nudge in the right direction, and good luck to you on you journey. The difference in you in is A.MAZ.ING, btw!

JILL NELSON

March 1, 2019 at 5:16 pm

So proud of you! Not just for losing weight – that’s a major deal and worth praising on its own – but I’m proud of you for focusing on your improved health! I’m proud of your “non-scale victories” – because those are the real victories! I hate diets. I’ve always hated anything calling itself a diet – because I believe a list of dos and don’ts only work as long as you do and don’t them..and let’s be real…most of the time highly restrictive anythings get old and we quit. I’ve watched friends lose weight only to gain it back, and then some, as soon as they ‘go back to normal’. Here they just lost the weight and regained health – and they’re “going back”??? Why????? You are on a lifestyle change and that is why I believe you will succeed. I’m really looking forward to following your journey. Thank you for sharing it!

I really needed to read this post! I am supposed to be on a low-carb regimen since my WLS in 2010. I’ve fallen off and jumped back on this wagon so many times! I have recently fallen off again. You have inspired my creativity with Addicted to Decorating for years and now you inspire my desire to get to a truly healthy version of myself. It was the photo that really got my attention and convinced me to get back on the wagon. You look great!

I use essential oils for most of my supplemental needs and mineral deficiencies. I like that you found Dr. Berg and his products. And I love that you defend him so passionately. Education is crucial. We are the gatekeepers of our homes and bodies.

Mrs. Morris

March 29, 2019 at 11:35 am

Long-time follower of the decorating/home improvements side of the blog here, who saw your before and after picture above the “visit my keto blog” button and was blown away! What an amazing transformation, Kristi! I’m so happy for you! (And not just because you look great, but SO much more importantly, you’re FEELING GREAT, and living healthfully, which is what really matters!) You GO GIRL!

Vanessa

April 11, 2019 at 12:09 pm

Well done Kristi! I follow Mark Sisson (not religiously at all) and have had several benefits, the joint swelling in my fingers going away is one of my favorite things. My whole arm was starting to get big but I was a bread/bakery expert and used to eat so much of it, go work out and then wonder what was wrong with my metabolism. I blamed it on the kids and my age. But no, it was the wheat and carb load. I do feel lucky to have escaped that grind.

Disclosure:

Please note that I am not a medical doctor, a scientist, a researcher, a nutritionist, or any type of medical/science/nutrition professional. This blog is intended for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to give medical advice, diagnose medical conditions, or offer “cures” for such conditions.

This is just the personal journey of me — a fat girl trying to lose weight and get healthy using the ketogenic diet — while also passing along some helpful information that I have found interesting and informative (from doctors, researchers, and other keto peeps), as well as some of my favorite yummy recipes along the way.